Where can I buy undamaged new kits

[niteowl7710]

Why would someone use a USPS box to ship via UPS? Unless they're recycling boxes...because in the strictest most literal reading of the law to use a Priority box for non-USPS purposes is theft.  Those boxes are "free" with the understanding that you'll use them within the USPS system, and ergo the postage you're charged offsets the "free" box.

Also we (FedEx) took back the delivery of the majority of urban FedEx SmartPost (the USPS delivered version of FedEx) because after the October imposed slowdowns made by the USPS they were missing too many delivery windows.  Having worked for both, the SmartPost stuff took a backseat to USPS's own parcels and they were forever behind on sorting it and getting it out of the building.  Once they started forcing trucks to depart at their cut times and stop paying for dock delays a lot of that FedEx stuff ended up getting stuck until the next day.  Wash, rinse, repeat that a few different places and suddenly it's taking 7-10 days to make a 3-5 day delivery.  Ever since the end of October a bunch of us have gotten a little topper to our weekly checks because we are now running shuttles out of the local SmartPost facility down to OUR local sorts when this used to be the job of a couple of folks who ran the trailers between the SmartPost and the big Pittsburgh Metro USPS Distribution Center all night long.

[Pete J.]

I recently bought a new kit on Amazon (Tamiya's Skyline GTR) and they shipped it in a padded envelope!!  I opened it expecting to find a smashed kit but to my never ending surprise it was perfect!  The box was perfectly straight. I was blown away.  I've has stuff in much sturier boxes beat the heck!  I guess I will never understand the shipping industry!

[BlackSheep214]

23 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

Why would someone use a USPS box to ship via UPS? Unless they're recycling boxes...because in the strictest most literal reading of the law to use a Priority box for non-USPS purposes is theft.  Those boxes are "free" with the understanding that you'll use them within the USPS system, and ergo the postage you're charged offsets the "free" box.

Theft? Not really. My guess the seller is reusing/recycling boxes he has in his disposal. I’ve reused USPS boxes in the past and never had an issue shipping thru UPS or FedEx as long as you black out the USPS banner on the boxes with a marker. What’s the difference what box you use?

[Daddyfink]

On 2/24/2022 at 9:24 AM, niteowl7710 said:

Why would someone use a USPS box to ship via UPS? Unless they're recycling boxes...because in the strictest most literal reading of the law to use a Priority box for non-USPS purposes is theft.  Those boxes are "free" with the understanding that you'll use them within the USPS system, and ergo the postage you're charged offsets the "free" box.

 

I use those boxes, or anyone else's, all the time! Just split them at the seam and turn them inside out. Then all yo have is a plain brown box. I have received plenty of packages where someone has done exactly that with them. 

 

[peteski]

15 hours ago, Daddyfink said:

I use those boxes, or anyone else's, all the time! Just split them at the seam and turn them inside out. Then all yo have is a plain brown box. I have received plenty of packages where someone has done exactly that with them. 

 

When was the last time you did that?  For several years now the inner surface of USPS Priority Mail boxes has "Thank you for using Priority Mail Service" printed all over the surface.  It is quite visible.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

I buy almost all of my kits on line (no decent hobby shops in one of the largest metropolis's (metropoli?) in the country) and I don't think I've ever received a shipping damaged kit. If I received a box as mangled as the one shown above I'd either refuse it or take it back unopened to the shipper and request they return it. That's just wrong. -RRR

[niteowl7710]

21 hours ago, BlackSheep214 said:

Theft? Not really. My guess the seller is reusing/recycling boxes he has in his disposal. I’ve reused USPS boxes in the past and never had an issue shipping thru UPS or FedEx as long as you black out the USPS banner on the boxes with a marker. What’s the difference what box you use?

Is anyone gonna do anything to you? No. But if you look at one of those boxes it has a warning printed right on it that the box is Property of the USPS and is to be used exclusively for mailing Priority Mail items and any other use of the box is a violation of Federal Law.

That's why I said "strictest most literal interpretation", the USPS would make no friends if they sent the USPIS around fining everyone who used them "illegally". ?

[Tabbysdaddy]

Once the box has been sent to me it's my box. It doesn't belong to the USPS anymore, and I can do with it as I wish. 

[Daddyfink]

9 hours ago, peteski said:

When was the last time you did that?  For several years now the inner surface of USPS Priority Mail boxes has "Thank you for using Priority Mail Service" printed all over the surface.  It is quite visible.

About a year ago actually. 

[lordairgtar]

On 2/26/2022 at 8:34 AM, niteowl7710 said:

Is anyone gonna do anything to you? No. But if you look at one of those boxes it has a warning printed right on it that the box is Property of the USPS and is to be used exclusively for mailing Priority Mail items and any other use of the box is a violation of Federal Law.

That's why I said "strictest most literal interpretation", the USPS would make no friends if they sent the USPIS around fining everyone who used them "illegally". ?

I can just imagine a new inmate is in the cell and the old convict ask what's he's in for.  "I'm here for embezzling funds from my job. What are you in for?"

                                                                                                                                                     "I used a USPS box to ship FedEx"

[deuces wild]

Do a search on Warren's hobbies on ebay.. I've bought a bunch of kits 3 er4 different times and never ever had a problem.... Tell them Guido sent ya.... ???

I think they're located in Pennsylvania....

Edited February 27, 2022 by deuces wild

[ewetwo]

Hobby Lobby during the 40% off sale. Order on line and usually they have free shipping if the order is over $50. I know they are the run of the mill kits but it’s a start. Read the description carefully. Some descriptions state it could be one of 2 kits you’ll get. I’d call and place the order. 

[louie]

I never imagined that I would of received this much feedback about this issue and I can not thank everyone enough. I'm trying to figure out how to upload some pictures of what kind of crushed boxes ( damaged kits) that I have received. I questioned one company about not sending me anymore banged up kits and they blocked me from buying, I wasn't complaining, I  had never mentioned anything before about it and to boot I was doing quite a lot of business with them. Needless to say after that experience I found other places to buy kits and I never received anything that had any damage of any kind until about 6 years ago and here we go again paying for new kits and receiving kits that should be on the discount shelf. So because of the experience I had on getting blocked I didn't say anything and just decided to try some other places and things would go good for a while and it seemed like the cycle would repeat itself until I had enough and voiced my unhappiness about how much money I'm spending and getting junk. I can't thank everyone enough for the responses about this issue as I should of asked a long time ago for advice on who to buy from. 

 

[BlackSheep214]

On 2/26/2022 at 11:14 AM, Tabbysdaddy said:

Once the box has been sent to me it's my box. It doesn't belong to the USPS anymore, and I can do with it as I wish. 

Exactly! 

[BlackSheep214]

On 2/26/2022 at 3:40 AM, peteski said:

When was the last time you did that?  For several years now the inner surface of USPS Priority Mail boxes has "Thank you for using Priority Mail Service" printed all over the surface.  It is quite visible.

I don’t see the point in that. Nobody is gonna see it when you bring a sealed box to UPS or FedEx to ship it out.

[peteski]

15 hours ago, BlackSheep214 said:

I don’t see the point in that. Nobody is gonna see it when you bring a sealed box to UPS or FedEx to ship it out.

I guess you didn't understand. It is not about being sealed.  Some people (Like Jesse above) take those new, unused Priority Mail boxes picked up for free from the PO and turn them inside out (so they no longer have the colorful USPS Priority Mail graphics all over them).  Originally the inside of those boxes was just plain brown (like any other box).  But USPS figured out that people were doing it, so they started printing identification text all over the inner brown side, so when turned inside out, they still show that they are USPS Priority Mail boxes.  It is supposed to be a deterrent for using those boxes for services other that Priority Mail.  This deterrent however likely only works when someone tries to mail those boxes through USPS (using cheaper service, like Parcel Post).  Unfortunately for USPS I don't think that UPS, DHL, or FedEx will reject a package just because it has the "USPS Priority Mail" written all over the box.